The Tusculum College Women's tennis team opened its South Atlantic Conference schedule with an 8-1 victory over host Carson-Newman College Wednesday afternoon.

The Pioneers (10-1, 1-0 SAC) won their ninth consecutive match and dropped just two sets in their victory over the Eagles (3-6, 0-4 SAC).

Tusculum kicked off the match with a sweep of doubles play, as Holly Verner and Katelyn Doss beat Jennifer Ott and Erin Green 8-1 at flight one, Courtney Conley and Taylor Patterson downed Katie Brown and Devon Jennings 8-3 at flight two, and Megan Buckmaster teamed with Kate Hutchinson for an 8-4 victory at flight three over Megan Wilson and Stefy Stand.

The team of Conley and Patterson posted their eighth consecutive victory and improved to 8-1 this season, a record matched by the top doubles pair of Verner and Doss.

In singles play, Verner defeated Ott 6-0, 6-1 at flight one, Doss downed Green 6-3, 6-0 at flight two and Conley won 7-5, 6-0 at flight three over Brown. With the win, Conley boosted her singles record to 10-1, including nine consecutive victories this spring.

Patterson came through with a 1-6, 6-3, (10-3) victory in a super tiebreaker over Stand at flight four, and Hutchinson remained perfect this season at 8-0 following a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Wilson at flight five.

The Pioneers will be home this weekend for a pair of matches, starting on Friday at 2:00 p.m. against defending SAC champion Wingate.